Aegopodium podagraria

RHS Plant Profile

ground elder

Other common names

acheweed, achweed, aiseweed, ash weed, axweed, bishop's elder, bishop's weed, dog elder, dwarf ash, dwarf elder, edgeweed, goat's weed, goatweed, goutweed, goutwort, herb Gerard, herb William, St Gerard's herb, white ach-herb, ground ash, llys y gymalwst

Herbaceous Perennial

Better known as ground elder. A vigorous, spreading, clump-forming perennial, it has soft green leaves and white flowers from spring through until the autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Apiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Matforming
Genus: Aegopodium are fast-spreading rhizomatous perennials with elder-like leaves and rounded heads of small white flowers in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, nat. N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Tolerant of most soils and situations and able to spread rapidly, carpeting the ground with foliage and creating a mat of shallow roots. Too competitive for most cultivated areas, but can be tolerated for its wildlife value in out-of-the-way spots. See ground elder for more information

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free